The security price tag of keeping TX Gov. Rick “I’m a Prophet” Perry safe costs the state a staggering $400,000 a month.

An close examination of Texas public safety department records found the agency forked out more than $1.4 million on out-of-state trips between September to December, including more than $397,000 between Sept. 5 and Sept. 28, 2011.

· $161,786 went for airfares· $8,140 for baggage fees· $50,648.84 for food· $6,442.24 for fuel· $112,111.81 for lodging· $54,356.65 for rentals· $2,990.26 for parking· $1,238.57 in an “other” unspecified costs

The Texas Tribune noted George W. Bush also amassed a hefty tab when he ran for president in 2000 while he was governor of Texas. The state spent at least $400,000 per month in the first quarter of the year when he ran for president in 2000, and Texas taxpayers paid $3.9 million for his security costs between January 1999 and March 2000 when Secret Service took over security detail.

9 Responses to Price of Keeping Rick Perry Safe: $400,000 a Month

They can’t provide health insurance to 25% of the state population but they can pay $400,000 for Rick Perry’s security? Am I the only one who thinks their priorities are half-ass backward down there in Texas?

The nitwits in Texas love Perry. They elected him three times despite having far more qualified people to elect to governor. I guess his drawl and his anti-intellectualism, makes Texans feel comfortable. He is one of us, y’all. Go figure?

But wait! That’s not all
The Kansas City Star reports:
Gov. Rick Perry is double-dipping, drawing retirement income from the state in addition to his salary as governor since late January, newly released records show.Perry’s move to begin drawing from his pension early this year while remaining governor, which his staff says is legal and consistent with state retirement rules, was unknown to the public until federal financial disclosures were made public on Friday.The national news media buzzed over Perry’s “retirement,” although his staff said he had not retired but had begun drawing his pension.
Perry said: “ERS (Employee Retirement System) called me and said, ‘Listen, you’re eligible to access your retirement now with your military time and your time and service, and I think you would be rather foolish to not access what you’ve earned.’”

“The governor’s gross annual salary is $150,000; his net salary is $133,000. The net monthly annuity check Perry started receiving Jan. 31 is $7,698. Combined, his net pay from the state is now more than $225,000 annually.
Anthony Gutierrez, spokesman for the Texas Democratic Party.”Somehow this Republican budget doesn’t have room to pay teachers but they can give Rick Perry a $100k pay raise.

But here is the best line:
If Perry wants retirement benefits he should do us all a favor and actually retire.

Yee haw! Perry is cashing in on Texas.
Im sure the 985,755 unemployed 4,188,658 food stamp recipients are just thrilled that the State is spending $35 billion more than it’s revenue.
Must be Bush-math they are figuring… ignore the economy & it will go away!

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